Last week, an estimated 1.5 crore people took a holy dip on the first day of the Mahakumbh Mela. This once in 12 years congregation, the largest in the world, is likely to see 40-50 crore footfalls over the next 45 days.
It is fascinating that these devotees are housed in tents erected on exposed mud banks after the flood waters receded in November.
Scholars believe this temporary city of faith holds up vital lessons in ephemeral urbanism for a world which is facing unprecedented uncertainty.
Not only does this marquee event showcase the profound spiritual commitment of millions but also presents an unparalleled case study in urban planning and management on a colossal scale.
To explore this thought, StratNews Global spoke to Rahul Mehrotra, Head of the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University and a scholar who has researched the Mahakumbh Mela on Capital Calculus.
